Aluminium’s decarbonisation challenge extends beyond the electricity powering its smelters. Inside the reduction cell, electrode quality influences how efficiently that electricity is used, how much carbon is consumed and how consistently the process performs. Improving electrodes therefore offers producers a practical opportunity to address operating costs and emissions together. For Switzerland-based R&D Carbon , understanding the relationship between raw materials, electrode quality and industrial performance has been a focus for four decades. Founded in 1986 by Werner K. Fischer, the company built on carbon research previously undertaken at Swiss Aluminium Ltd., or Alusuisse. Today, it operates from Granges, near Sierre, with a team of 30 specialists serving more than 150 customers...
Chevron Australia has entered a new natural gas supply agreement with South32’s Worsley Alumina business, reinforcing the importance of reliable energy supplies to Australia’s alumina refining industry. The deal will support operations at the Western Australian facility, where energy availability remains central to mineral processing and industrial activity. Under the contract, Chevron will supply natural gas to South32 Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd from 1 January 2028. The arrangement continues a longstanding commercial relationship between the companies, with the fuel allocated to the alumina producer’s processing requirements. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: " Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade...
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According to the US Geological Survey, the United States' primary aluminium production experienced a monthly fall of 2,000 tonnes or 3.51 per cent, following a 4 per cent rebound in the previous month. On an annual calculation, the output marked a sharper decline of 9.8 per cent in November, surpassing the year-on-year fall recorded in October 2024. Data revealed the United States' domestic production of primary aluminium in November 2024 was 55,000 tonnes compared to 57,000 tonnes in October and 61,000 tonnes in November 2023. Thus, the United States cumulative output of primary metal from January to November 2024 amounted to 618,000 tonnes, sharply down by 21.57 per cent from 749,000 tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year. However, the daily average output in...
Crucial Engineering a Bradford-based company specialising in aluminium doors and security access systems has bagged a £250,000 loan from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, a part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), to fuel its growth. The funding will empower Crucial Engineering to take on larger projects, building on its recent expansion into bigger premises and a series of high-profile contract wins. Image Source: Crucial Engineering website The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II) supports businesses across the North of England, offering loans from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investments of up to £5 million. Its mission is to drive sustainable economic growth by fostering innovation and creating local opportunities for startups and scaling...
The Mumbai-headquartered Indian multinational cement company UltraTech Cement has announced its foray into the wires and cables segment with a planned investment of around USD $200 million (₹1,800 crore) to establish a manufacturing facility in Gujarat. On February 25, 2025, the Aditya Birla Group's board approved a proposal to expand its presence in the construction value chain through its Building Products Division. The plant, set to be located near Bharuch, is part of the company's broader strategy to expand its presence in the construction value chain. According to UltraTech Cement, the facility is expected to be commissioned by December 2026. UltraTech stated that this aligns with its strategy to solidify its position as a leading provider of comprehensive building solutions. In...
Maan Aluminium Limited, a manufacturer and trader of aluminium profiles, has reached a new 52-week low, signalling industry volatility and underperformance. Performing below average in the aluminium sector by 3.63 per cent, Maan’s stock price has hit as low as INR 85.2 (US$0.98). Maan’s stock has been trending down consistently since February 25, when the price stood at INR 97.50 (US$1.12). After a brief holiday on February 26, the stock price on February 27 decreased to INR 92.74 (US$1.06) and dropped below INR 90, reaching INR 89.56 (US$1.03) on February 28. Thus, Maan Aluminium’s stock price has plunged by 12.6 per cent since February 25. The company’s performance over the past year has been challenging, seeing a decline of 41.2 per cent, representing a striking contrast with the...
Lulu Retail, a leading force in the retail industry, proudly announced the successful completion of its inaugural solar project at the Riyadh Central Warehouse in Saudi Arabia. This milestone underscores the group's dedication to sustainability, aligning with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals and driving progress toward a cleaner, greener future for the region. Lulu's dedication to renewable energy innovation The 502.7 kWp rooftop solar plant, developed in partnership with the Kanoo-CleanMax joint venture, is expected to produce 846 MWh of clean energy annually — cutting Lulu Group's carbon emissions by approximately 382 metric tonnes each year. This reduction is equivalent to planting nearly 9,000 trees over the next decade. The project sets a new benchmark for sustainability in the...
China continues to spearhead the global transition to renewable energy, achieving remarkable progress in 2024 with an addition of 277 GW of solar and 79 GW of wind capacity — outpacing many other nations. Image source: Freepik These new additions elevated China's total renewable energy capacity (except hydro power) to 1,407 GW, signaling a steady shift towards renewables, with solar power alone contributing 886 GW and wind power accounting for nearly 521 GW. By the end of 2024, China's renewable energy capacity accounted for 15% of the world's total installed capacity for the year alone. The rest of the world added 193 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity in 2024, with the United States contributing 163 GW and India 91 GW. Germany, Japan, Brazil, and Spain followed with additions of 91 GW,...
Pilot Energy, a leader in the clean energy transition, has partnered with South32 Worsley Alumina to conduct a feasibility study on carbon capture and storage (CCS) for its operations. Launched in the quarter of January-March 2025, the study aims to evaluate the supply chain for capturing and storing up to ~700,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. It will assess the onshore conditioning, transportation, and delivery of CO₂ from the alumina refining process’s flue gas streams to Pilot’s Cliff Head Carbon Storage project. However, the study is expected to be completed by Q3 2025. Depending on the findings, the study could serve as a foundation for deeper commercial and technical discussions on Worsley Alumina's decarbonisation strategies. Additionally, the results will support Pilot's...
Neveah Limited, the Nigeria-based commodities export company, announced that its aluminium and copper waste recycling plant in Mowe, Ogun State, is set to generate significant employment opportunities. According to Ibidapo Lawal, the company’s CEO, the facility will create 40,000 direct jobs and an additional 6,000 indirect jobs for Nigerians. Lawal also highlighted the plant’s environmental impact, stating it will cut Nigeria’s carbon emissions by approximately 377,460 tonnes annually — the equivalents of taking 82,000 cars off the road. Lawal described the facility as a major milestone for Nigeria’s industrial and environmental landscape, emphasising Neveah Limited’s dedication to sustainability and economic progress. “The facility is projected to generate over $100 million in annual...
The Australian mining and exploration company Metro Mining announced its 2024 annual results, highlighting the successful commissioning of the Ikamba Offshore Floating Terminal (OFT) and port infrastructure upgrades. Following the commissioning in Q2, the Bauxite Hills Mine achieved a steady operational capacity aligned with the expansion target of 7 million wet metric tonnes (WMT) per annum in the final quarter. This milestone contributed to a total shipped production of 5.7 million WMT for the year, marking a 24 per cent increase compared to the previous year. Metro recorded 30 per cent year-on-year revenue growth, reaching $307 million, driven by record shipments and a strong pricing environment. Site EBITDA margins stood at $13.8 per WMT in Q3 and improved to $17.4 per WMT in Q4,...
Hongqi, one of China's oldest and largest automotive groups (owned by FAW Group), has officially launched the Tiangong 05, an all-electric midsize sedan and the first model in the Tiangong series. Available in four variants, the vehicle is priced between RMB 159,800 and RMB 185,800. About Tiangong 05 Drawing inspiration from the Hongqi E009 concept car, the Tiangong 05 seamlessly blends signature design elements with a sleek, modern aesthetic. The front showcases a closed-off grille, distinctive leaf-shaped headlights, and Hongqi's iconic red emblem, creating a striking visual presence. The side profile features an elegant fastback silhouette with a dynamic, upward-sweeping waistline, adding a sense of motion even at a standstill. At the rear, L-shaped taillights echo Hongqi's evolving...
From the early-mid month of February 2025, Australia has been actively seeking an exemption from the United States' 25 per cent tariffs on aluminium and steel, claiming the country's contribution to the US domestic market trade surplus as a key justification for securing an exemption. During this process, optimism briefly flickered in the Australian market when US President Donald Trump hinted at a possible reprieve, describing Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as "a very fine man." The hope was further fuelled following a positive phone call between Albanese and Trump on February 11, where they discussed the Aukus defence pact, critical minerals, and mutual foreign investments. Albanese said after the call, "Our aluminium is a critical input for manufacturing in the United...
Policy tweaks have played a major role in the European carbon prices — but in the recent couple of days what seems to be the real driver behind is investor behaviour. As the European Commission tweaks with its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), traders and funds are calling the shots, slashing positions in the EU market while doubling down in the UK. Image Source: https://www.worldbank.org/ Investor exodus hits EUAs European carbon allowances (EUAs) fell during the week ending February 28, with December 2025 contracts trading at EURO 72.26 per tonne CO2e (USD 75.19 per tonne CO2e) at 12:45 GMT, down about 4 per cent from the previous week, according to Intercontinental Exchange data. Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, pegged the December 2025 EUA contract at EURO 72.72...
This week has been highly eventful for the upstream aluminium industry, especially the primary aluminium sector, which has dominated the headlines. The industry is going through a rough time with news of sanctions and tariffs hitting the market. To begin with, the voice of the entire aluminium value chain in Europe (European Aluminium) welcomed the inclusion of primary aluminium in the EU's 16th sanctions package against Russia. The new sanctions cover key aluminium product categories, such as ingots, slabs, and billets, under the trade code HS 7601. On the other hand, Alcoa, a leading global aluminium producer, recently raised concerns that the proposed 25 per cent tariffs could result in over 100,000 job losses. These developments highlight the immense challenges the aluminium industry...
RUSAL, one of the world's largest aluminium producers, has integrated four of its Russian smelters into a programme focused on processing and incorporating aluminium scrap into primary metal production. The Volgograd Aluminium Smelter — the pioneer and leader of this initiative — increased its recycling volume by 74 per cent. The use of scrap helps reduce the carbon footprint of both the metal and its end products while highlighting one of aluminium's strategic advantages — the ability to be infinitely recycled without any loss of quality. The Boguchansky, Bratsk, Irkutsk, and Krasnoyarsk aluminium smelters joined the programme in 2024, processing external aluminium scrap that, after remelting, was used in the production of primary metal. The Volgograd Aluminium Smelter (VgAZ) launched...
On February 27, 2025, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) to build an aluminium solar frame manufacturing facility with an annual production capacity of 80,000 tonnes. Under the JV signed, the two parties have agreed to form a cooperative framework to conduct commercial viability, feasibility, and necessary terms for the successful implementation of the project. Effective from the date signed, the MoU will remain in force and effect for a valid term of three months unless the parties terminate the agreement early. The facility is proposed to be located in Bintulu, Malaysia, and is estimated to require an investment of RM600 million. Initially, 20 per cent of the capital needed for the...
EOS GmbH, a global leader in industrial 3D printing of metals and plastics, announced that its widely used metal material, EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg, is now produced entirely from recycled feedstock. This shift is designed to lower carbon emissions and promote sustainability in additive manufacturing. EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg joined the company's Responsible Products portfolio in April 2024, initially using 30 per cent recycled feedstock to achieve a 25 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Now produced with 100 per cent recycled feedstock, EOS assures that the material retains the same properties, characteristics, and performance in additively manufactured parts — eliminating the need for existing customers to requalify applications. "We're proud to have...
The Western Australian government faces mounting pressure to defend its commitment to safeguarding Perth's drinking water following a fresh set of revelations about potential contamination risks linked to Alcoa's mining operations on the city's outskirts. Picture for representational purposes only The US mining giant, long accused of jeopardising water safety, has drawn criticism for failing to adequately restore the Jarrah forest, which it has reportedly cleared at its bauxite mine sites. Over the years, Alcoa's operations have edged close to Serpentine Dam, a critical drinking water source, heightening fears of water quality risks. While there is no evidence that Alcoa's activities have directly impacted Perth's water supply, newly obtained documents are declared to paint a more...
Zaha Hadid Architects, a British architecture and design firm, has unveiled plans for a striking cultural centre in Reggio Calabria, southern Italy, overlooking the Strait of Messina. The Centre of Mediterranean Culture will feature a sculpted, futuristic design with a facade crafted from locally produced, marine-grade anodised aluminium panels. The building's façade, crafted from locally sourced, marine-grade anodised aluminium panels, helps reduce solar heat gain while reflecting the region's distinctive Mediterranean light. Deep overhangs provide shade, limiting direct sunlight and mitigating glare from sea reflections. The facade will be 90 per cent opaque, carefully engineered to adapt to the region's wind conditions. Embracing advanced computer modelling — a growing focus for the...
